Charles 'Bill' William Young's Political Positions

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Bill Young refused to tell citizens where he stands on any of the issues addressed in the 2012 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart, national media, and prominent political leaders.

*Note: This percentage is calculated based on the number of issue areas addressed by the candidate on the Political Courage Test at the conclusion of the testing period. It does not indicate support or lack of support by Project Vote Smart.

Issue Positions

In response to the increasing unwillingness of candidates to answer issue questions, Project Vote Smart has researched Presidential and Congressional candidates' public records to determine candidates' likely responses on certain key issues. These are provided below as a courtesy to voters.

National Organization for Women. 04/18/2012. "On the votes used to calculate its ratings, the National Organization for Women attaches more value to those votes it considers more important. For 2008, the National Organization for Women gave Bill Young a rating of 53 percent." (votesmart.org)

Bill Young. U.S. Rep C.W. Bill Young changes course, says U.S. should withdraw from Afghanistan. 18 September 2012. "Over and over, every time the subject of pulling American troops out of Afghanistan has come up, U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young has voted to stay the course. He opposed resolutions to withdraw, and even a resolution to set a timetable for a full withdrawal. Not anymore. 'I think we should remove ourselves from Afghanistan as quickly as we can [¦] I just think we're killing kids that don't need to die.'" (www.tampabay.com)

Vote Smart's Research

Bill Young. Representative Young, Chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, Statement on Continuing Resolution. 11 February 2011. "From day one, I have said that Defense cuts should be on the table when addressing the federal deficit, but that any cuts I recommend will not adversely affect our national security and I will not support any cuts that adversely affect our war fighters. Within a $500-plus billion bill, we can certainly find savings and efficiencies while providing for the wellbeing of our troops and their families, and ensuring they remain the best trained and equipped fighting force in the world." (www.votesmart.org)

Bill Young. Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2012. 23 June 2011. "The base budget of this bill is $530 billion, which is $9 billion below the President's budget request. It was not easy to find the savings, but we were determined to find those savings without having any adverse effect on the warfighter or the readiness of our Nation." (www.votesmart.org)

Bill Young. Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011. 14 April 2011. "We looked at this bill very closely, and they asked me if we in the subcommittee could reduce some of the Defense spending in this bill. The answer is yes. We were diligent. We spent hours, days, and weeks making sure that we found sources of money that we really could eliminate without having a negative effect." (www.votesmart.org)

Bill Young. Hearing of the Defense Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee - FY 2012 Defense Appropriations Bill Before Full Committee. 14 June 2011. "To reach the reduced base allocation of $530 billion, the Subcommittee reviewed in detail the budget request, and found areas and programs where reductions are possible without adversely impacting the warfighter or readiness." (www.votesmart.org)

Vote Smart's Research

Americans for Tax Reform. 04/18/2012. "Bill Young supported the interests of the Americans for Tax Reform 90 percent in 2007." (votesmart.org)

Citizens for Tax Justice. 04/18/2012. "Bill Young supported the interests of the Citizens for Tax Justice 17 percent in 2006." (votesmart.org)

Bill Young signed Americans for Tax Reform: Taxpayer Protection Pledge. "I, Bill Young, pledge to the taxpayers of the 13th district of the state of Florida and to the American people that I will: ONE, oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rate for individuals and business; and TWO, oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates." (s3.amazonaws.com)

National Taxpayers Union. 04/18/2012. "Bill Young supported reasonable tax and spending policies as defined by the National Taxpayers Union 80 percent of the time in 2010." (votesmart.org)

Vote Smart's Research

Bill Young. HR 5297. 112th Congress. Small Business Lending Fund and Tax Law Amendments. Bill Young voted Did Not Vote on 09/23/2010. (votesmart.org)

The Club for Growth. 04/18/2012. "On the votes used to calculate its ratings, The Club for Growth attaches more value to those votes it considers more important. For 2010, The Club for Growth gave Bill Young a rating of 90 percent." (votesmart.org)

Americans for Prosperity. 04/18/2012. "Bill Young supported the interests of the Americans for Prosperity 90 percent in 2010." (votesmart.org)

Bill Young. Letter to the Honorable David Obey, Chairman, United States House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations. 14 September 2010. "At a time of extreme spending and political fatigue, it is simply unacceptable to use a must-pass CR as a legislative vehicle for more wasteful federal spending or completing an array of unfinished political business before the election. For example, the Administration has proposed that the CR continue the failed policies of the "stimulus" bill. The proposal includes provisions to allow as much as $10 billion in unused stimulus money to continue to be spent next year instead of returning it to the Treasury for deficit reduction." (img.votesmart.org)

Bill Young. Issue Position: Our Economy. 11 July 2011. "Restoring our economy and growing jobs must be our first priority in this 112th Congress. Too many citizens in Pinellas County and throughout America have lost their job through no fault of their own. We know what does not help: wasteful government "stimulus" spending, crushing government regulations issued by unelected bureaucrats, and burdensome government taxes on job creators." (img.votesmart.org)

Bill Young. Young Opposes Economic Stimulus Package. 28 January 2009. "Congressman Young voted against the economic stimulus bill during House consideration. In his remarks during debate on the legislation, he expressed concern about the bill's cost, its ability to really create jobs to stimulate our economy, and about the procedure with which it was written and brought before the House with little or no input from the large majority of House members." (img.votesmart.org)

Bill Young. American Recovery And Reinvestment Act Of 2009. 28 January 2009. "And what do we get for our "investment"? Nobody knows how many jobs, if any, this legislation will create. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that only 15 percent of the spending in this bill will even take place between now and the end of the fiscal year on September 20, 2010." (img.votesmart.org)

Vote Smart's Research

Bill Young. Issue Position: Our Economy. 11 July 2011. "The U.S. business tax rate is the 29th highest out of the 30 largest economies in the world, putting American companies at a competitive disadvantage. We must take steps to streamline the tax code that costs too much, is too complex, and is overly burdensome." (img.votesmart.org)

Vote Smart's Research

Bill Young. Letter to The Honorable Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior, United States Department Of The Interior. 11 May 2009. "In addition to jobs and revenue, the 2007-2012 offshore program promises vitally needed American energy that will make our country less dependent on foreign oil [¦] Fortunately, oil and gas is abundantly available offshore below our own waters, where most Americans want it produced and where U.S. workers can safely produce it using state-of-the-art technology." (img.votesmart.org)

Bill Young. Issue Position: Gulf Coast Recovery. 11 July 2011. "Knowing the damage an oil spill can cause our state, Congressman Young has taken a backseat to no one when it comes to ensuring that our coastal waters and beaches remain pristine [...] Since 1983, he has offered numerous amendments to appropriations bills to create a buffer zone protecting Florida's west coast from offshore oil drilling." (img.votesmart.org)

Bill Young. Issue Position: BP Deepwater Horizon Spill. 11 July 2011. "When the oil industry proposed drilling off the Gulf coast of Florida, Congressman Young offered an amendment to a 1983 supplemental appropriations bill to create the first buffer zone to protect Florida's west coast from offshore oil drilling [¦] In 2006, he helped negotiate more permanent protection against drilling when a buffer zone that extends 234 miles off the coast of the Pinellas County beaches Congressman Young represent was written into law." (img.votesmart.org)

Bill Young. Peterson Amendment Devastating for Florida. 29 September 2005. "We are writing to express our grave concern regarding legislative efforts to weaken the existing offshore drilling ban off Florida's fragile coastline. As you know, the existing ban, which has had strong bi-partisan support, was put in place to protect Florida's highly fragile ecosystem. Eliminating the drilling ban poses a clear danger to our environment and an economy that are inextricably linked." (img.votesmart.org)

Bill Young. American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009. 26 June 2009. "Despite my support for clean energy and a clean environment, I must oppose this cap and trade legislation which will impose increased costs on American citizens who have done nothing wrong." (img.votesmart.org)

Bill Young. Clean Energy & Florida's Environment. 11 July 2011. "Cap and Trade is the wrong route to take. Even the President acknowledges that electricity rates would "necessarily skyrocket" under Cap and Trade. That is why Congressman Young voted against Cap and Trade in the 111th Congress and support legislation that prohibits the EPA from implementing these policies through regulations." (img.votesmart.org)

Bill Young. Issue Position: Health Care Reform. 11 July 2011. "Congressman Young opposes government intrusion into American's health care, and voted consistently against the President's drastic overhaul which was signed into law earlier this year. When the 2,733 page bill was pushed through Congress under political maneuvering and a closed legislative process, leaving little room for input from differing ideas, America's current health care system was drastically restructured for the worse." (img.votesmart.org)

Bill Young. Issue Position: Health Care Reform. 11 July 2011. "Ultimately, Congressman Young opposed the final version of PPACA for various fundamental reasons including its estimated cost of $1 trillion over the next 10 years [...]" (img.votesmart.org)

Bill Young. Issue Position: Illegal Immigration. 11 July 2011. "Additionally, as seen from past attempts at immigration reform, amnesty does not work. Congressman Young has a history of opposing any attempt at amnesty, including voting against the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, which granted amnesty to nearly 2.7 million illegal aliens. Today, Young continues to oppose amnesty as a way of dealing with illegal immigration." (img.votesmart.org)

Vote Smart's Research

Alliance for Retired Americans. 04/18/2012. "Bill Young supported the interests of the Alliance for Retired Americans 50 percent in 2008." (votesmart.org)

Bill Young. Issue Position: Social Security. 11 July 2011. "Congressman Young understands how vital Social Security benefits are to the people of Pinellas County. He has continually opposed efforts to weaken the safety net, such as replacing the program with private Social Security savings accounts , which jeopardize the benefits that countless retirees have come to rely on since the Social Security Act was first signed into law by President Roosevelt in 1935." (www.votesmart.org)

Key

Official Position

Candidate had the Political Courage to address this issue directly.

Inferred Position

Candidate refused to address this issue directly, but Project Vote Smart inferred this issue position based on the candidate's public statements, voting record, and evaluations from special interest groups.

Unknown Position

Candidate refused to address this issue.

Project Vote Smart's Research

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